Article Posted: November 26, 2003

COLUMBUS, OH -- Young hunters across Ohio took 5,208 deer onSaturday and Sunday, November 22-23, during the state's first-ever youthdeer-gun hunting season, according to the Ohio Department of NaturalResources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife."We are pleased so many youngsters got out to hunt last weekend andthat so many were successful. Hopefully, this season will be the start of along-running tradition for many families across the state," said Steven A.Gray, chief of the ODNR Division of Wildlife.Counties reporting the greatest number of deer killed during theseason were Tuscarawas with 222; Ashland with 184; Coshocton with 152;Licking with 147; and Ross and Harrison with 146 each.The youth deer-gun season was open statewide on both private andpublic land. Hunters could take one deer of either sex, in accordance withexisting bag and deer-zone limits. Shotguns, muzzleloaders, handguns andbows were legal. All participants were required to wear hunter orange,possess a valid Ohio hunting license and special deer permit, and beaccompanied by a non-hunting adult. The youth deer-gun season is one of four special youth-only datesdesigned to promote the sport of hunting among young Ohioans. Special daysare also set aside for upland game, wild turkey, and waterfowl huntingopportunities for young people age 17 and under.Youngsters and all other hunters will have another chance at takinga whitetail during next week's statewide deer-gun season, which will runMonday through Sunday, December 1-7.Details on youth hunting seasons and Ohio's other deer huntingseasons can be found in the 2003-2004 Hunting and Trapping RegulationsDigest, available where licenses are sold. It can also be viewed online atohiodnr.com .